Dreamscaper is a delightful rogue-lite that is worth sinking hours and hours into if you are a fan of this genre. Beautiful graphics, engaging combat and a constant trickle of content easily overcome the small niggles I had with this game. A great game to play in long or short bursts that I found hard to put down. Just don’t stay up too late playing it. Sleep is very important. Sweet dreams.
CreatorCrate has some very unique ideas with its procedurally generated levels and general wacky but entertaining gameplay. While its controls do hold it back I can’t deny that this game made me laugh and held my attention. I was also intrigued to see what randomness would present itself next. If you love your platformers CreatorCrate is worth your time. A unique idea that has not been tried before that will likely win the hearts of gamers that give this cute little robot a chance. If you want to try it first. There is a free demo on steam to try before you buy.
Unbound: Worlds Apart dark mage protagonist has a little flame at the end of its hat. That’s kinda how I see this game; a little spark in a sea of many 2D adventures. What makes Unbound stand out is its pleasant art style and unique gameplay with the portals. I certainly had more fun than I expected. If you’re looking for that next 2D adventure fix Unbound is well worth picking up and spending time with.
PING REDUX maybe just a punch of pixels but it bursts with originality. A simple and in some ways addictive concept which had me returning to try to conquer the challenging levels. Strangely the lesson I took from this game is sometimes you come across a wall or a problem where the solution seems impossible. You try again and again but you just can’t break through that wall. But you keep trying. You keep coming back. Then one day, during a moment you least suspect, you see the solution appear in your heart and then your head. Then it happens and you win, and the relief that you feel is just something one can’t always put right into words. Sorry, I’m supposed to be talking about a video game. If you are looking for quick puzzle gaming PING REDUX might just be the video game equivalent of the back scratcher you need to relieve that itch.
Dariusburst: Another Chronicle Ex + is a solid port of the arcade title. It’s never easy to convert an arcade game of this magnitude onto Switch or TV but the developers have done a decent job in its translation to the home system. It’s also one of the more affordable titles in the series so if you have been wanting to see what all the fuss is about this may be a good game to start with. A great arcade game to enjoy alone, with friends or even on those weekends away fishing. Just try not to cast your Switch into the lake by accident.
Omno is a gaming experience to take in and appreciate. Beautiful music and graphics make this the meditative gaming experience some gamers will adore. Particularly if you need that important escapism from stress or an excuse not to do the washing up for a few more hours. It’s a game that lets you go at your own pace and will likely ignite the feels with its cute animal interactions. An incredible achievement from a solo developer and musician combo that is well worth taking the time to explore.
Cotton Reboot! is an absolute treat for arcade fans and a title that shows this genre certainly still holds up years later. If you never got a chance to appreciate Cotton this is a great opportunity to see why this was so beloved in Japan. A brilliant title to enjoy if you don’t have a lot of time on your hands and want to rack up a high score. Cotton has her chance to finally shine in the West, let’s hope we see more games get their chance in the future as well.
Super Sami Roll has all the right ingredients for a winning product. For gamers with the time and patience to adapt to the control scheme will probably discover a challenging and rewarding experience. But for the more casual fans or those looking to blow off steam after a hard day at work, the frustration might just be too much to see it through. I like what Super Sami Roll is trying to achieve. I loved the graphics and general design of the game. It just didn’t really click with me in its current state.
Samurai Warriors 5 is a breath of fresh air for the Musou series. If you have not been into these games before it’s unlikely this is the game to win you over to the series. For me, though, this felt like a return to a more traditional form. With keeping the battles simple like I remember back in the day whilst adding plenty of depth to keep you playing for hundreds of hours. I may have taken a break from this series for some time but Samurai Warriors 5 feels like a welcome return to form. If you’re a fan of this series this is definitely one to look out for.
Ayo the Clown ended up being a wonderful platform surprise for me. The developers put a lot of care and attention into this project and it really paid off in the final product. While I did have a few niggles with the controls, this was a highly entertaining game that I found very hard to put down. On top of that, it carries a beautiful message about acts of kindness to other people. Even if you hate clowns Ayo the Clown might be the game that finally makes you think overwise.
Cris Tales is worthy of praise for its gorgeous art design and originality to its gameplay design. The time mechanic gives the game its own identity which will likely net it a dedicated fanbase hungry for a new JRPG that is traditional but different. But being classic it’s not without some classic flaws with irritating random encounters and tedious backtracking. But if you can overlook these niggles you’re in for a game well worth spending your Summer with, or any other season of the year for that matter.
Color Breakers is a very admirable first step in a new series and one of the better attempts at the cooperative genre. If you’re looking for that next co-op fix to share with friends or family I highly recommend giving this game a chance. It does have its issues, the graphics are a bit bland and some of the gameplay designs are questionable. However, this game has huge potential for the future. I would love to see this series grow and become something refined and improved. But as far as first steps go by new developers this really is a winner.
Macrotis: A Mother’s Journey, is an enjoyable game if you’re looking to test your puzzle skills. Controls could be a bit more responsive and the trial and error approach to puzzles can become a bit dull. But it’s easy to say this is the best game starring an elephant shrew-like character I’ve played. It doesn’t do anything to reinvent the wheel but this is a solid casual puzzler if you give it a chance.
A Tale of Synapse: The Chaos Theories is most certainly a unique puzzle platformer. If you are looking for a slow experience that is different from the usual formula then I most certainly recommend giving this a chance. You don’t need to be a Mathematics expert to enjoy the game but you do need to use your brain and think things through. I felt the combat segments felt a little forced and it would have fared better as a more Zen-like puzzle experience. Regardless this is the best video game featuring Mathematics since Math Rescue on PC.
Overall, I really enjoyed my time with Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny. As someone who has only casually dabbled in the series, I found the silly story an amusing treat. Any game that can make you laugh is good in my books. For fans of the series, this does feel more of the same, only with the graphical facelift. Whether you are new or old to this series Disgaea 6 is well worth diving into the Netherworld for some well-needed chuckles and compelling combat.
Mini Motorways is a relaxing game that’s ideal for those gaming sessions where you don’t want to think too much. Simple premise but highly addictive. This is a game about controlling traffic, only you won’t get hot and bothered like the real thing. Accessible and entertaining for everyone.
This is one of those reviews where I’m happy to concede that maybe I just don’t get this game. But I think what would help a new player know this for sure, is a demo. If you can, I strongly suggest downloading the free mobile version so you can test it out for yourself. It probably won’t take you much to be better than me. But it would allow you to discover if this is worth the investment on the Nintendo Switch. Kickerinho World is a game that reminds me of a lot of old tricky mobile games like Flappy Bird. You’re either going to gel with the challenge or you’re going to play it a few times and never touch it again. I found the game to be confusing and uncomfortable to play. This would not be the quickfire gaming session I would try in the waiting room myself. But I do believe there is an audience for this type of game. It’s just not for me.
Super Destronaut DX-2 certainly scratches that arcade itch. If you like simple high score chasing space shooters this is one of the good price titles in that category. It doesn’t do much to reinvent the formula, but I can easily see myself jumping back into this during a much-needed coffee break. Though I do imagine I will probably forget to drink my coffee.
I have to say with all my niggles I had fun with Alchemist Adventure. I generally liked what this game was going for. Hopefully, the developers will continue to polish up this game post-release because hidden within all of the difficulties I had is a true gem of a game. Just in its current state, right now you need to put up with some rough design choices.
In a previous job I had when I was younger one of the managers used to say I was weird as a description of my character. For a long time, I interpreted being called weird as a negative. As I grew older I did realise that we have that choice to interpret this ourselves as a positive or a negative. Onirike is a weird game and for some, it won’t gel. The platforming is a bit awkward. The story is confusing and the invisibility and dash features feel more of a chore than enjoyable features. But despite my niggles I choose to see Onrike as the positive weird and for those gamers that give it a chance, I hope you do too.